Frostpunk from 11 bit studios brings the society survival game experience to the Nintendo Switch. Check out our Frostpunk review!
Frostpunk from 11 bit studios brings the society survival game experience to Nintendo Switch. In the world of Frostpunk, heat is the most valuable resource, since everywhere you look there’s snow, ice, blizzards, and more snow, ice, and blizzards. You must use the available steam-powered technology to keep as many people as possible alive, while also dealing with serious decisions that will determine who lives and who will need to be left behind for the greater good of the community. You are, after all, in charge of the last city on Earth…
Optimization will be key for this, since you’ll need to manage the available resources and scavenge for the few remaining ones out there, even if this means that some of those in the search party won’t be returning home. The survival of New London will need to be your ultimate goal, even if this puts the lives of some at risk. Collecting valuable intel during expeditions or finding new resources can lead to being able to work on the technological development that can open a new path for your strategy.
This game was originally released by 11 bit studios on PC on Steam in 2018, which was followed by a console release on Sony’s PlayStation 4 console in 2019. I previously had a chance to work on a Frostpunk 2 review last year, and I had a lot of fun with how the sequel – which takes place 30 years after the events of this prequel – handled its post-apocalyptic world and reality, so I was most certainly up for checking out how the prequel set everything into motion.
After the intro cutscene, you’ll need to get started right away by using the left analog stick to move the camera around, and use the right analog stick to rotate the camera as needed, so that you can always get the best view possible. Be sure to zoom in and out as well since even the tiniest detail can be important to your mission!
Press the – button for the temperature overlay, a very valuable piece of information that will let you know how your efforts are having an impact on the city. You can change the game’s speed, decreasing it by pressing left on the D-Pad or increasing it by pressing right on the D-Pad. Pressing up on the D-Pad will immediately return the game’s speed to normal.
Managing your resources is something that will always need to be on your mind. You’re going to need coal to power the Generator, so that the cold does not completely destroy your community. On top of that, you’ll also need to collect steel and wood, which are a must for building new structures as well as for research. Oh, and you should definitely get some steam cores for some of the more advanced facilities!
Most of the buildings will need you to assign some people to work there. Some will require workers, while others will need engineers. You can select a workplace by pressing the A button and then use the assignment panel to choose how you’ll distribute people. Use the ZL button to open up the command hub. From there, you can access the construction menu. Be sure to buy enough tents for people to live in, or else they will end up leaving, walking into a cold death.
All of that is fine and well, but your people are not going to even make it through the night if you don’t find them some raw meat that can be processed at a cookhouse to prepare the food rations they so desperately need. Food is just as important as heat, so be sure to find a way to keep everyone fed, even if by the bare minimum.
A society is only as strong as its laws and how they’re upheld by its citizens. You will need to establish laws to regulate your growing population as you make important choices that will impact their day-to-day, their families, and their future. Will you severely ration food even if this will make people angry, lowering their morale and leading them to revolt? Do you approve sending kids to work on dangerous jobs?
The temperature inside a building will depend on the power setting used for the Generator if the building is in a heat zone, as well as a building’s insulation. There are six temperature levels to consider: comfortable, liveable, chilly, cold, very cold, and the most dangerous, freezing. Upgrading the Generator will allow you to improve the heating for the city and its people.
Frostpunk brings us the society survival game experience to Nintendo Switch. In the world of Frostpunk, heat is the most valuable resource, since everywhere you look there’s snow, ice, blizzards, and more snow, ice, and blizzards. You must use the available steam-powered technology to keep as many people as possible alive, while also dealing with serious decisions that will determine who lives and who will need to be left behind for the greater good of the community. You are, after all, in charge of the last city on Earth…
You must keep in mind the temperature that is being kept under control thanks to the power of the Generator and a building’s insulation, as well as have enough homes for people to live in and food to keep their bellies as full as possible. If the needs of the people are not fulfilled, discontent will rise. The laws in place will also have an effect on the mood of your society. Can you make the right choices that can hopefully keep as many in New London alive for as long as possible?
In order for the game to be able to make the jump to the Nintendo Switch, some compromises had to be made here and there. The framerate has been lowered to a target 30 frames per second, a target that is easier to hit during the first half of the game’s campaign when the city of New London is not as packed and busy. Some of the weather effects have also been dialed back, and the same goes for the lighting. In the end, the core experience remains, and that’s what matters.
Frostpunk is out on Nintendo Switch with a $29.99 price tag. You can also go all-in and get the Frostpunk: Complete Edition for $45.00, which, along with the base game, will also give you access to the DLC expansions The Last Autumn, On the Edge, and The Rifts. If you get the base game and want to then get the DLC, then you can get the Frostpunk: All Expansions Pack for $24.9,
Disclaimer
This Frostpunk review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy provided by 11 bit studios.
